Authentic communication – tricky but key for problem-solving
Authenticity has become an overused buzzword for acting and speaking as your true self. It seems a goal in itself on our way to self-realisation. But when it comes to talking to others, just displaying your opinions, beliefs and feelings is not enough for having authentic communication. It takes more.
How can being true to oneself work when you want to achieve quality solutions as a team?
When stakes are high and conversations are difficult, several factors need to be matched to open the way for understanding and addressing the root of a problem.
Authenticity is situational. Be true to the context AND to yourself
Being authentic starts with knowing what you want to communicate. Why do you want a conversation? Are you merely expressing emotions about something that is not working as you would have expected? Are you there to seek a solution in cooperation WITH others? Be aware what your intentions are and tell the others. Invite questions from the others, check if you have been heard and understood.
Being yourself and having quality communication are not mutually exclusive. You master authentic conversation when you manage to speak and act as matched for the situation. Speaking from your perspective will give you the confidence that you have acted without compromising yourself. It is not about having your own way, but about creating your own way in the respective context. For that to happen you need to obtain a view of the entirety of what is going on.
Recognising your role is empowering. You see what you can do and where the limits are. The limits show you where you need to work together with the others. You bring your understanding of the problem. Now you need to find out what the others bring to the table.
Get the whole picture
Now that you are clear about your authentic self, shift the observation from the individual to the group perspective. Who are you talking to? What do you know about each other’s intentions? What are you trying to achieve or to protect as a group? Do you take into consideration the roles and functions of the people you are dealing with?
Is the situation clear to everyone? Do you agree on what you want to achieve together? For getting to the root of a situation and having a complete picture of the situation all relevant information must be expressed. Verify if all people that are affected by the solution are present or sufficiently represented.
The awareness of the different perspectives creates authenticity through shared understanding. That means being yourself with others.
Unleash full potential together
Authenticity goes beyond the individual. It can be created and experienced together. Group intelligence is an authentic experience. To open yourself up for processes of thinking together in a group you need to drop the idea that you fulfil your potential on your own. Thinking together in that way is the basis for sustainable decision-making.
Once you have managed to have authentic conversations as a team, make sure not to lose that momentum. Make sure that it is clear what the follow up is and what kind of actions are taken. Plan for regular reviews and holding people accountable.
Keep in mind that authenticity is nothing static. People, situations, and problems constantly change. The factors that generate authenticity in conversations need to be adapted in a continuous manner. Authentic communication is a continuous process and a way of talking and thinking together.
Being authentic in a conversation means to recognise what is going on and to adapt YOUR WAY to make a good conversation happen. This way, you create authenticity for the conversation, and you open yourself up for working together. When practised as a group, this approach prepares the way for innovation and discovery.
Elisabeth Razesberger